Hunger causing problems in the classroom, new research reveals

Andy Done-Johnson

More than forty per cent of teachers in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have brought food into school for children who haven’t eaten anything in the morning, according to a new study.

The poll of 765 teachers showed that more than eight out of ten (82 per cent) East Midlands-based teachers see children coming into school hungry at least once a week, while 49 per cent said they see children going hungry every day.

According to a fifth of teachers (19 per cent), the number of children coming to school hungry has increased compared to this time last year, while none reported a decrease.

Those who said the problem was getting worse said that families were still struggling financially, while 38 per cent said parents were too busy to give their kids breakfast.

A third of teachers (39 per cent) said they’d had a child in their class fall asleep, blaming it on hunger or thirst. Some 82 per cent said a hungry child is unable to concentrate,

A total of 50 per cent claimed they were more disruptive, and 34 per cent said hunger causes a child to cry in distress, accorsing to the research commissioned by food giant Kellogg’s.

Jill Rutter, head of policy and research at the Family and Childcare Trust, said: “Missing breakfast has a huge impact on children’s ability to concentrate, learn and behave, which affects their results and long-term outcomes.”

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